July 28, 2010
I have been a Certified Financial Planner for 24 years. I own and operate an independent financial planning practice. Since inception my firm has strongly believed in and stringently maintained rigorous fiduciary standards. Many times during the past two decades I have been approached by individuals asking me to evaluate their securities portfolios. In many instances it was blatantly apparent that these investors had been sold securities that were inappropriate for their age, station in life, or asset base. Often the most distinguishing characteristic of these unsuitable securities was the remuneration to the selling agent or broker. It is long past time that all who represent themselves as financial advisots be brought under the same fiduciary standard required of those registered under the Investment Advisors Act of 1940. To do less not only harms investors, but maintains an inexplicable double standard.